CBCP Supports “Dapat Isa Lang” Initiative: A Call for Fair Political Opportunities
In a heartfelt announcement this past Friday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) voiced strong support for the “Dapat Isa Lang” People’s Initiative. This movement is a critical step toward establishing a law aimed at curbing political dynasties in the country. The bishops, led by Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, recognize this initiative as a peaceful and democratic effort to honor a vital constitutional mandate.
At the heart of the CBCP’s message is a profound belief that political power should never become a family inheritance. Public office, they stress, is a sacred trust bestowed by the people. The 1987 Constitution advocates for equal access to opportunities for public service and explicitly prohibits political dynasties. However, nearly 40 years later, Congress has yet to pass a law to uphold these constitutional values.
“After almost forty years,” the bishops declared, “the constitutional command against political dynasties should no longer remain merely an aspiration. The time has come to give it genuine meaning in law and in political life.” This statement resonates with many Filipinos who have waited too long for fair representation and the chance to participate fully in governance.
Importantly, the bishops clarified that their stance is not aimed at any specific political family, party, candidate, or official. “The issue at hand is not about the individual goodness or competence of particular persons or families,” they said. “It’s about a system that enables power to concentrate within the same families, stifling opportunities for other qualified citizens and undermining genuine political competition. This, in turn, complicates accountability.”
“No family, no matter how respected or capable, has a permanent claim to public office,” they affirmed. Leadership should be a beacon of opportunity for all Filipinos who possess integrity and a genuine desire to serve their communities.
The CBCP is calling on dioceses, parishes, Catholic schools and universities, religious communities, and lay organizations to help educate the public about the initiative and encourage respectful dialogue. They emphasize the importance of participation, stating, “Dapat Isa Lang is an exercise of the sovereignty that our Constitution recognizes as residing in the Filipino people.”
Launched in May, the Dapat Isa Lang initiative aims to gather at least seven million signatures—representing 10 percent of the country’s registered voters—in order to pass a meaningful anti-political dynasty law.
Moreover, just this week, the Supreme Court reiterated the urgency for Congress to enact such legislation. They recognized that the concentration of power needs to be addressed urgently but emphasized that they would not dictate how this law should be crafted or its specific limitations.
As the movement gains momentum, the call for justice and equality in political representation only grows stronger. The time for change is now, and with unified support, the hope for a fair political landscape in the Philippines shines brighter than ever.
